Chapter 27: Remembering the Past

Chapter 27: Remembering the Past

The maid lowered her head even further, murmuring, "The doctor has seen her, and said that the mistress's illness is a matter of the heart, requiring a remedy for the heart."

A flicker of impatience crossed Lu Feng's cold eyes. At that moment, a series of intermittent coughs came from inside the room, very faint, but not unnoticed by Lu Feng, who had trained in martial arts for many years.

He walked into the room.

The room was not large, with carved wooden windows half-closed, allowing light to filter through the lattice, casting a pale light on the woman leaning by the window, making her face appear even more pallid.

"You... *cough*... why are you here?"

Jiang Wanxue's pale face showed a look of surprise, seemingly unaware of Lu Feng's arrival.

Lu Feng stared at her steadily, placing the curved knife from his waist on the table, and sat down with authority.

"I heard you were sick."

At these words, Jiang Wanxue's body trembled slightly. She turned her face away, embarrassed, and whispered, "It's nothing serious."

"Believe it or not, I didn't call you here."

Lu Feng neither confirmed nor denied, speaking indifferently, "Send someone to fetch the doctor. If you need anything, have Chang'an handle it."

"I lack nothing."

Jiang Wanxue's voice was cold and distant, "If that's all, then please leave."

Lu Feng made as if to stand, "Take care of yourself."

"Brother Jun Chi—"

A moment of silence.

Jiang Wanxue let out a bitter laugh. She walked up to Lu Feng, her slender wrist lifting the teapot as she poured him a cup of tea. "The tea is old and bitter, but please don't mind."

Lu Feng did not reach for the cup. He said, "I've already told you, if you need anything, ask Chang'an. There's no need to endure this alone."

Jiang Wanxue sat down across from him, pouring herself a cup of hot tea as well, and looked directly at him. "Don't you know what I want most right now?"

Lu Feng nodded, "You'll have to wait a little longer. Rest assured, once everything is settled, I will grant you one wish, within my power."

Jiang Wanxue took a sip of the hot tea and sighed, "You talk about after everything is settled, but what if they... what if they don't come looking for me? What will you do then?"

Lu Feng said with certainty, "There is no 'what if.'"

He had already made his plans.

Prince Gong was once the emperor's favorite prince. Earlier this year, an imperial edict accused him of four crimes: hoarding iron ore, secretly selling weapons, selling government positions, and colluding with rebels. What truly enraged the emperor was the charge of "colluding with rebels."

Back when the emperor raised his army in Youzhou, to the north was the King of Lu, and to the south was the King of Chen, both with strong armies and ambitious intentions. The King of Lu, with his powerful army of 100,000, was the first to attack Youzhou. While the emperor and the King of Lu were locked in a fierce battle, the King of Chen took the opportunity to march toward the capital by water, intending to wait until both sides were exhausted and then reap the rewards.

The emperor suffered significant losses in the battle with the King of Lu, and the King of Chen proved even more treacherous, resorting to poisoning and arson, sparing no means to achieve his ends. Though the emperor emerged victorious, it was a pyrrhic victory, and he even lost a son who closely resembled him in the chaos of battle. In the end, the King of Chen, clutching the imperial jade seal, leaped from the city walls. The emperor, still unsatisfied, had his remains crushed and scattered, and then summoned a high monk to suppress his spirit, ensuring he would never find peace in the afterlife.

Few knew that as the King of Chen stood before the city walls, lamenting, "Such is fate, such is destiny! Heaven's will is not with me!" a group of his loyal followers seized the opportunity to secretly escort his descendants south. By the time the emperor discovered this, they had already vanished without a trace.

In those days, the previous emperor was incompetent and tyrannical, plunging the people into misery. Later, the princes turned against each other, and wars broke out frequently. When the current emperor ascended the throne, he faced a kingdom riddled with problems, not to mention the constant threat from the Turks in the north. The emperor could only secretly search for traces of the King of Chen's remnants. After so many years with no news, he finally found them through his own son. How could the emperor not be furious?

Prince Gong's mistakes were the kind that, when weighed, seemed insignificant, but when placed on the scales, could tip them by a thousand pounds.

Selling government posts and noble titles? He was a prince with real power, tasked with official responsibilities. Such practices have existed since ancient times, and in this dynasty, one could even donate money to secure an official position. As long as it wasn't overdone, it wasn't seen as a major issue.

Concealing iron mines? He was a prince with his own fiefdom. Failing to report the iron mines in his territory was like a grown son stashing away some private savings. The emperor could grit his teeth and let it slide.

But what he absolutely should not have done was secretly forge iron weapons and even sell them to Prince Chen's remnants! The emperor placed a high value on loyalty. How many of his comrades-in-arms, who had fought with him to build the empire, had died at Prince Chen's hands? If they had died honorably on the battlefield, the emperor could have accepted it as the nature of war—where victors and vanquished are decided. But they had died because of Prince Chen's underhanded tactics. Coupled with the murder of his own son, the emperor and Prince Chen were mortal enemies!

Whether Prince Gong knew the buyers were Prince Chen's remnants or not, this crime had sealed his fate, leaving him no hope of redemption. What Lu Feng needed to do now was to use the last vestiges of Prince Gong's usefulness to lure out the remnants of Prince Chen and eradicate them in one fell swoop.

The emperor said, "Jun Chi, you should handle this matter."

"No one else can do it. Only you are capable of handling this."

The emperor still feared Prince Chen's treacherous ways, believing that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree—Prince Chen's remnants were likely just as despicable. It didn't matter, Lu Feng thought. If the enemy was a villain, he was no gentleman either.

The last batch of items hadn't been secured yet. Wasn't that a pressing matter? Now that Prince Gong was confined to his residence, it was both house arrest and protection. If they couldn't investigate the residence, what about bringing him out?

There was even a ready-made reason. Back then, Prince Gong had stolen his beloved, and the saying "once having seen the ocean, nothing else compares" applied. When Lu Feng took on this case, it drew many sideways glances, as if people believed he still had feelings for his former fiancée.

How ridiculous.

...

Jiang Wanxue slightly furrowed her brows. It wasn't just others who thought this way—she, too, struggled to understand him.

Back then, she had wronged him. Later, when she saw him climbing the ranks, she genuinely felt happy for him, and some of her guilt dissipated. That was until half a year ago, when the prince was put under house arrest.

At that time, he was the one who led the troops to surround the prince's residence. Meeting an old acquaintance in such a way, their eyes met, both filled with sorrow.

She had been so ruthless back then; she thought he must hate her. Yet he glanced at her and ordered, "Do not disturb the women."

Wasn't she the only woman in the courtyard at that time?

The emperor had stationed heavy guards around the prince's residence, and all daily necessities were managed by the palace eunuchs—a bunch of sycophantic servants. At first, they thought the prince might have a chance to regain favor, so life was still bearable. But as time went on, the supplies they sent became increasingly shoddy, even daring to skimp on meals.

At the New Year's banquet, she personally knelt before the emperor. She wanted the lofty sovereign to see that while he and his sons enjoyed the pleasures of family, he still had one son living in loneliness, without even charcoal for warmth!

That day, she was stopped outside the Donghua Gate. Those servile dogs, sensing the shift in power, became even more ruthless. Life grew increasingly harsh, and then he arrived.

He said, "Let's make a deal."

It wasn't a tone of negotiation but a command. Jiang Wanxue looked at his cold, stern face and suddenly felt he was a stranger.

In that moment, she thought of everything. Did he want to torment her? Or humiliate her? Never did she imagine he would simply ask her to move out, to lure out the remnants of Prince Chen.

This small courtyard was peaceful. He had ordered that all her daily necessities be provided according to the standards of a former princess consort. The imagined poisoning, assassinations—none of it happened. Free from the trivialities of the inner household and the company of concubines she despised, except for not being able to see her children, she lived more comfortably than she ever had as a princess consort.

Yet he rarely came here.

What remnants of Prince Chen? That was a matter of twenty or thirty years ago. Prince Chen's ashes had long been scattered. Why go to such lengths?

He had found a courtyard to keep her in comfort, yet ignored her, leaving her to fret and overthink.

Tendrils of white steam rose from the teacup, veiling Lu Feng's dark, brooding eyes. His brow was high, and the deep scar running across it gave him a fierce, menacing appearance.

Jiang Wanxue said, "You... have changed so much from before."

The memory of that upright, steady nobleman grew fainter, with no trace of his former self visible.

Lu Feng raised an eyebrow and glanced at her. "Speak plainly. No need to beat around the bush."

Jiang Wanxue said, "Lately, I've been having frequent dreams and headaches, often unable to sleep at night, dreaming about many past events."

"I was only this tall back then."

She gestured with her hand, "The trafficker said there were sugar-coated haws to eat, and I actually believed it. A noble lady from a marquis's household, yet I was greedy for a couple of bites of food. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know where I might have ended up."

"You saved my life, no matter what, I always remember your kindness—cough cough."

Her words were sincere, her gaze fixed stubbornly on Lu Feng's face, determined to elicit a response.

Lu Feng was silent for a moment, then said, "For the headache, send someone to fetch a doctor and get a couple of sedative prescriptions."

Jiang Wanxue also fell silent.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, staring straight at him, and said, "The doctor said it's a heart condition, needing heart medicine to cure."

Lu Feng's patience had run out. He grabbed his waist knife and turned to leave. As he crossed the threshold, Jiang Wanxue suddenly said, "Brother Jun Chi, I have no regrets."

She said, "When my mother was giving birth to me, she dreamed of a phoenix. A phoenix must perch on a paulownia tree; I was not wrong!"

"If... if I had to do it all over again, I would make the same choice. Even though the prince is now in a bad state, born to serve the prince, I will die as his soul, I will never regret it!"

Lu Feng paused but said nothing, steadily walking away.

His presence was too intimidating; the maids dared not approach. She held a tray of freshly heated food and cautiously asked, "Mistress, should we still serve this food?"

"Why not? Bring it over."

Jiang Wanxue was not as angry as the maid had expected; instead, she was quite composed.

She first washed her hands and rinsed her mouth, then personally ladled herself a bowl of chicken soup, skimming off the froth on top.

She smiled, "Why are you standing so far away? I'm not going to bite you. Here, this bowl of soup is for you; it's too greasy, I can't eat it."

The maid stepped forward and nervously asked, "Mistress... aren't you angry?"

"Why should I be angry? The one who should be angry isn't me."

Jiang Wanxue gently wiped the corner of her mouth, meaningfully saying, "Men, they're just despicable."

He appeared at her lowest point, kept her in this small, square courtyard, provided her with fine clothes and food, but never visited her.

She thought about it day and night, and in a moment of clarity, she realized what he truly wanted!

He wanted her to feel regret.

Regret that cup of wine from back then, regret abandoning him!

She deliberately told him she had no regrets, that she would rather die with the prince, and no matter what he did, he would never have her.

Jiang Wanxue suddenly asked, "How is Qing'er? Has her injury healed?"

The maid's face showed a trace of sorrow, "She still has a fever; the doctor said she was frightened and needs to rest quietly."

"Then let her rest; it's a lesson to learn what should and shouldn't be said in the future."

Jiang Wanxue was displeased, what a foolish maid, if she didn't lack people around her, and if the maid wasn't somewhat loyal, she wouldn't allow such a person to serve by her side, it's simply a disgrace to her.

Jiang Wanxue asked her again, "Tell me, am I beautiful?"

The maid hurriedly nodded, "Of course, my lady, you are stunning!"

Jiang Wanxue's looks perfectly matched the beauty standards of the time. She was tall and slender, with fair skin, eyebrows like distant mountains, and eyes like autumn water. Her slim waist was delicate and graceful, exuding a fragile charm.

Years of pampered living had kept her skin smooth and fair, with no trace of age.

She asked again, "How do I measure up to her?"

The maid knew exactly who "she" was.

After racking her brains for a while, the maid whispered, "That temptress, how could she ever compare to your celestial beauty and noble elegance? She’s just a pretty face, barely literate, and completely empty-headed. She just had a stroke of luck. With her looks and background, she’d have been lucky to be a lowly concubine!"

"Just a plaything, nothing more."

Truthfully, how could the maid know any of this? She was just telling her mistress what she wanted to hear, all while glancing around to ensure no one was listening in.

"Yes, why does she have all the luck?"

Jiang Wanxue murmured, "I was born into nobility, tutored by great scholars at five, mastered the Four Books and Five Classics by seven, excelled in poetry, calligraphy, and painting by ten, and by sixteen, I was celebrated as the capital’s most talented woman. Tell me, how did I come to this?"

The maid lowered her head, not daring to speak.

After a long silence, Jiang Wanxue’s voice floated down, "In a few days, find a way to get a message to him. Tell him I’ve lost an earring and ask Commander Lu to help me find it."

Lu Feng came home early today, and Jiang Wanrou dined with him before sunset.

***

Under the crimson sunset, Lu Feng suggested, "Shall we take a walk?"

The imperial physician had recommended that pregnant women walk regularly to ensure an easy delivery.

"Don’t—"

Jiang Wanrou clutched her belly and complained, "I’ve already walked three laps around the courtyard today. I’m too tired to walk anymore."

This wasn’t entirely true.

In truth, Jiang Wanrou had spent the afternoon napping on the recliner. She had just woken up, nibbled on some pastries and melon, when Lu Feng returned, and they dined together.

Her legs had been swelling terribly lately, and she wasn’t in the mood to move.

Unfortunately, since her pregnancy, Jiang Wanrou had been caught in too many little lies, and Lu Feng’s trust in her was wearing thin. He called Jintao over to ask, and naturally, he found out what his wife had been up to in the afternoon.

"Alright, alright, let Jintao leave. I’m too ashamed."

Jiang Wanrou looked sheepish, tugging at Lu Feng's sleeve and refusing to let go. "My legs are aching. I can’t walk."

Lu Feng said, "I'll walk with you."

"Your legs aren’t—"

Jiang Wanrou suddenly stopped talking, seeing that Lu Feng didn’t look displeased. She relaxed in her chair, adopting a 'what can you do about it' attitude.

Lu Feng truly couldn’t do a thing about it.

His wife had become particularly delicate lately, though it was always over trivial matters. When it came to serious issues, she never faltered. Even the usually uninvolved family elders had sent messages several times: "Your wife is a good one, and she's pregnant. Don't let her suffer."

It was truly... infuriating.

He suggested, "Why don't you get up and take a little walk? Next time we play chess, I'll... let you have a few moves?"

"No, no."

Jiang Wanrou knew perfectly well. She had long understood that no matter how many moves he let her have, she could never surpass Lu Feng. It wasn't worth it.

Lu Feng added, "If you find the art of war boring, I'll read you something else tonight—anything but those drama scripts you like."

Jiang Wanrou smiled and said, "Husband, it's getting late. Let's just go to bed."

He wasn't reading for her benefit but for the baby in her belly. It was so boring and monotonous that it often made her sleepy. But he always had to stop in the middle and quiz her. When she didn't get it, he'd explain over and over, never tiring.

It was really... making it impossible for her to get a good night's sleep.

Lu Feng fell silent.

He stayed silent, just staring at Jiang Wanrou with a blank expression, as if pondering how to persuade his disobedient wife.

His stern expression would have made anyone else tremble with fear, but Jiang Wanrou wasn't fooled. After years of marriage, she knew he wasn't angry at this moment.

She yawned, took his hand, and placed it on her belly, saying, "Husband, feel this—our baby's kicking again. If I move, he'll get all upset."

Lu Feng felt for a while, then said gravely, "The baby doesn't know any better. You... you'll just have to let him tough it out."

Jiang Wanrou: "..."

Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder if Lu Feng was just messing with her.

"Husband, he can't endure it."

She cut him off before he could speak, "And neither can I."

Lu Feng's brows furrowed tightly. After a long while, he reluctantly said, "If you really want to hear those drama scripts, I guess... it's not completely out of the question."